High tension conductor clamping assembly



v 7 April 8, 1969 UNDSEY 3,437,743

HIGH TENSION CONDUCTOR CLAMPINO ASSEMBLY Filed April 10, 1967 4. 6 z/A/asa INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,437,743 HIGH TENSION CONDUCTOR CLAMPING ASSEMBLY L. E. Lindsey, 222 Vista Ave., Pasadena, Calif. 91107 Filed Apr. 10, 1967, Ser. No. 629,610 Int. Cl. H01b 17/16 US. Cl. 174-169 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A conductor clamping assembly mounted for pivotal movement on an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of a power line insulator by means of a boss and an aligned This invention relates to conductor clamping assemblies and more particularly to an improved assembly especially designed for convenience in hot servicing high tension conductors. The clamping assembly per se is unusually compact, rugged, yet light in weight and designed for limited pivotal movement while supported on a horizontal pivot axis in a C-clamp type bracket secured to the outer end of a cantilever-supported high tension insulator. The main body of the clamp is ring shaped and includes hollow bosses projecting diametrically from its sides for pivotal support in a mounting bracket carried at the outer end of the insulator. Extending crosswise of the upper edge of the main body ring is a conductor seating channel notched along its midsection to accommodate a slidably supported clamping jaw. The latter is likewise notched for slidable interlocking movement along an inclined slideway and is so arranged that the jaw tends to gravitate to its open position as the clamping screw is loosened. The latter is likewise mounted at an inclination to the horizontal to safeguard against accidental loss if the screw should become detached from the jaw. The heads of the cap screw and the mounting screw for the clamp assembly are both accessible from the outer free end of the insulator.

The invention conductor clamping assembly has been specially designed to meet the many safety, service and operating requirements of a satisfactory high-tension clamp suitable for use on cantilever supported insulators. The clamping assembly has a ring type main body provided for trunnion support between the open sides of a C-type bracket projecting axially from the outer end of the insulator. A cap screw is adjustable to seat in one of the sockets carried by the main body ring and permits the assembly as a whole to pivot about the axis of this mounting screw as is desirable in certain power line installations. Among the numerous safety factors featured by the invention is the arrangement of the clamping jaw for sliding movement transversely of the conductor along an inclined slideway whereby, upon loosening the clamping screw, the clamping jaw automatically gravitates to its open position and remains there until forcibly moved upwardly against the' side of the conductor. Desirably, the clamping jaw has interlocking movement with the slideway to prevent accidental displacement of the jaw. Additionally, this interlocking engagement of the jaw with the main body of the clamp assures that the main body 3,437,743 Patented Apr. 8, 1969 rather than the cap screw carries a principal portion of the load imposed by tightening the clamp. This interlocking relationship also safeguards against accidental twisting of the cap screw.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a rugged, high strength, lightweight conductor clamping assembly adapted to be pivotally supported about a horizontal axis at the outer end of a high tension insulator.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a conductor clamping assembly having a one-piece main body and conductor seating facility and a single clamping jaw adjustable between a fully retracted position generally outside the channel and a clamping position overlying the' channel.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a conductor clamping assembly having limited pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and having a clamping jaw cooperating with an upwardly-opening conductor seating channel and arranged for movement along a plane inclined to the horizontal and downwardly away from one side of the conductor.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a high tension insulator designed for support cantileverfashion from the side of a pole and having a pivoting clamping assembly supported at its outer end for limited pivotal movement about an axis gene-rally parallel to and aligned with the insulator axis.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawing to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawing in which a preferred em bodiment of the invention is illustrated:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an illus rative embodiment of the invention clamping assembly mounted on the outer end of a horizontally supported insulator;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the clamping assembly per se;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view on a reduced scale taken along line 3-3 on FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 44 on FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURES but showing the jaw open and the cap screw partially withdrawn.

Referring more particularly to FIGURE 1, there is shown a preferred embodiment of a clamping assembly, designated generally -10, featured by this invention. Assembly 10 is pivotally supported in an upwardly opening C-bracket 11 integral at one end with an end cap secured to the outer end of a high tension insulator .13 mounted cantilever fashion from the side of a pole, not shown.

As is best shown in FIGURE 3, clamping assembly 10 comprises a ring-like main body 15 having a pair of bosses 16, 17 projecting outwardly from the diametrically opposed sides thereof. As herein shown by way of example, each boss is provided with a well 18 one of which seats over a complementally shaped pintle 20 projecting axially from end cap 12 and the other of which seats the end of a cap screw 22 threadedly supported in the outer upturned end 23 of bracket :11.

Main body 15 is generally rectangular as viewed from its lower end. Extending transversely across its upper end and integral therewith is an elongated upwardlyopening channel-shaped conductor seat 24. The midportion of the inner side wall of this seat is notched, as is indicated at 25, to provide a slideway for an inverted J-shaped conductor clamping jaw 27 having its stem portion projecting downwardly into main body ring 15. Projecting toward one another from the opposite sides of ring 15 are a pair of flanges 29 which extend into grooves 30 (FIGURE 4) formed along the opposite sides of the stem of jaw 27. Flanges 29 extend along the rear end portion only of the generally vertical opening through the main body thereby permitting assembly of the jaw between flanges 29. These flanges have a loose fit with grooves in the stem of the clamping jaw and serve to hold the jaw properly aligned with the main body and avoid placing a twisting or bending load on the stern of the jaw adjusting cap screw to be described presently. It will be understood that flanges 29 are inclined to the horizontal, which is represented by the axis of the insulator, the inclination being downwardly to the left as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 3, with the result that the clamping jaw 27 always tends to gravitate out of clamping relation to the conductor when permitted by its clamping screw. This arrangement facilitates servicing the conductor and permits the jaw to be positioned completely clear of the seating channel when the clamping screw is fully loosened.

The means for adjusting the clamping jaw comprises a cap screw 32 extending loosely through an opening 33 in the outer side wall of the main body and having its threaded end mating with threads carried in the stem portion of jaw 27. The axis of screw 32 is inclined acutely to the horizontal in the installed position of assembly on an insulator with the result that this screw tends to remain fully seated against the main body at all times thereby avoiding the possibility of accidental loss of the cap screw in the open position of the jaw.

Assembly of the components described above will be apparent from the foregoing description. The assembly of the clamping jaw to the main body is accomplished while screw 32 is detached. The stem of the jaw is then lowered into the generally T-shaped opening 35 at the upper end of the main body ring, the stem of the clamping jaw being inserted downwardly through the T-head portion of the opening. When so assembled the notches in the side of the stem are aligned with retainer flanges 29 along the stem portion of T-shaped opening and the jaw is free to slide rearwardly into interlocking engagement with these flanges. Thereafter, cap screw 32 is inserted through opening 33 and rotated into mating engagement with the threads in the jaw.

The assembly is now ready for installation in bracket 11 of the insulator. This operation is accomplished while mounting screw 32 is fully backed off so that pintle 20 can be inserted into well 18. Thereafter screw 32 is rotated until its inner end is firmly seated within well 18. Desirably, the threads of screw 22 have a snug fit with the threads in the bracket with the result that the screw remains in any adjusted position in which it is placed.

A high tension conductor may now be inserted through the open top side of channel 24 following which screw 32 is tightened until jaw 27 is firmly seated against the conductor to look the conductor immovably within seating channel 24. It will be appreciated that assembly -10 is free to pivot through a limited are about pintle 20' and screw 22. Normally, such pivotal movement occurs only through a very small arc in response to wind loads and changing conditions in the power line itself. This movement avoids imposing undue strains on the insulator and has various beneficial results for reasons which will be self-evident and understood by those skilled in the construction and operation of high tension power lines.

To be noted is the fact that both mounting screw 22 and clamping screw 32 have their heads readily accessible from the outer end of bracket 11. A tool can be easily applied to the head of either screw by a workman mounted on the pole or positioned on the ground and utilizing a long handled tool. It will therefore be recognized that the clamp featured by this invention is not only simple and foolproof in operation but is designed for servicing with minimum risk by a lineman while the conductor is live.

While the particular high tension conductor clamp assembly herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capa- 4 ble of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An article of manufacture comprising a conductor clamp for support on an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of a power line insulator, said clamp having an elongated main body provided at its ends with aligned means forming part of complementally shaped socket means for supporting said clamp on an axis extending lengthwise of said main body, an upwardly opening conductor seating channel extending crosswise of the upper side of said main body, a conductor clamping jaw positioned to clamp a conductor firmly within said seating channel, and straight cap screw means threaded to said jaw and underlying said conductor seating channel and interconnecting said jaw and said main body.

2. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said main body is hollow.

3. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said main body includes an opening extending lengthwise of the upper side thereof and crosswise of the bottom and one side of said conductor seating channel, said clamping jaw being slidable along said opening and crosswise of said conductor seating channel to clamp a conductor firmly in place therein, a cap screw having a loose fit in said main body with the threads thereof mating with a threaded opening through the lower end of said clamping jaw.

4. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1 characterized in that the aligned means at the opposite ends of said main body comprises a pair of wells adapted to loosely seat complementally shaped pintle means carried by the insulator end cap.

5. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said main body is generally tubular shaped with a pair of socketed bosses projecting outwardly from the diametrically opposed exterior sides thereof and forming part of said complementally shaped socket means.

6. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 5 characterized in that said clamping jaw includes a portion extending downwardly into the top of said tubular main body, said jaw being shiftable crosswise of said conductor seating channel between a conductor clamping position and a nonclamping position wherein said jaw is positioned outside the conductor seating portion of said channel.

7. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said clamping jaw and said main body are so shaped that said jaw is slidably supported for movement along a plane inclined to the horizontal with the lower end of the incline being positioned remotely from said conductor seating channel whereby said clamp naturally gravitates to open position as said cap screw is loosened.

8. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 7 characterized in that said cap screw is supported with its longitudinal axis inclined to the horizontal and with its wrenching end at the higher elevation thereby to safeguard against accidental loss of the cap screw should the screw become detached from said clamping jaw when the latter is in open position.

9. In combination, an insulator adapted to be mounted cantilever fashion from the side of a power line pole, a combined cap and upwardly directed C-shaped bracket secured to the outer end of said insulator, a boss aligned with a cap screw projecting toward one another across the open end of said C-shaped bracket, a conductor clamp assembly having a main body provided with aligned outwardly opening sockets in the opposite sides thereof respectively seated over said boss and over the end of said cap screw for limited pivotal movement about the axes thereof, said main body having an elongated conductor seating channel extending crosswise thereof and of the longitudinal axis of said insulator, and adjustable clamping means for clamping a conductor rigidly in said channel and supported for sliding movement through a notch in one sidewall of said conductor seating channel and efiective to clamp a conductor against the remote sidewall of said seating channel and movable to an open captive position leaving the channel open and unobstructed.

10. The combination defined in claim 9 characterized in that said adjustable clamping ineans includes a cap screw mounted loosely in an opening through an upright side wall portion of said main body and having its longitudinal axis inclined acutely to the horizontal with its threaded end lowermost, whereby said cap screw will not tend to fall from said main body by gravity.

11. The combination defined in claim 9 characterized in that said clamping means comprises a jaw slidably supported on surfaces of said main body inclined acutely to the horizontal and downwardly and laterally away from said conductor seating channel.

12. The combination defined in claim 9 characterized in that said adjustable clamping means includes a cap screw loosely supported in said main body on the end thereof remote from the main body of said insulator.

13. The combination defined in claim 9 characterized in that said main body is hollow and opens downwardly as well as upwardly through the top side of said main body.

14. The combination defined in claim 13 characterized in that said adjustable clamping means includes a cap screw extending crosswise of the upper end of said hollow main body and has threaded engagement with a conductor clamping jaw having a portion projecting downwardly into said hollow main body.

' .15. The combination defined in claim 14 characterized in that said main body and clamping jaw have interfitting tongue and groove means extending crosswise of the upper end of the hollow portion of said main body and providing a slideway and a keeper for said clamping jaw.

A. B. Chance Co. advertisement, Electrical World, vol. 16 2, No. 25, Dec. 21, 1964, page 39.

Lapp Insulator Co. advertisement, Electrical World, vol. 156, No. 19, Nov. 6, 1961, pages 8 and 9.

LARAMIE E. ASKIN, Primary Examiner.

" U.S. Cl. X.R. 24--135; 248- 

